Storage time effects on the bactericidal activity of plasma treated quats disinfectant-impregnated wipes

• Main Author: Song, Xinyu
• Publication Date: 2019
• Other Authors: Vossebein, Lutz, Zille, Andrea
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/61409
• topic: Wipes; Disinfectant; Plasma; Textile; Antimicrobial; Storage; Engenharia e Tecnologia::Engenharia dos Materiais

Introduction: An efficient cleaning and disinfection practice plays a crucial role in preventing cross-contamination in nosocomial environment. The binding of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) on cellulosic material which may fail the disinfection process hinder the broad use of pre-impregnated disinfecting wipes (ready-to-use disinfectant wipes) in hospital. Moreover, ageing of disinfectant-impregnated wipes may affect the products’ disinfection performance later in practice but very little research was performed regarding this issue. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the adsorption change and antimicrobial activity due to the ageing of the disinfecting wipe over storage time with and without atmospheric Double Barrier Dielectric (DBD) plasma pre-treatment. The main questions to be answered are: i) How does the adsorption of active ingredients onto textile substrate change with storage time; ii) How does the antimicrobial efficacy vary by time. The study of the adsorption of QACs in storage is important to ensure hospitals daily workflow and to complement the products’ user manual of disinfectant and wipes in the market. Methods: Plasma–treated and untreated commercial wiping materials of polyester (PET), 55% cellulose/45%PET and 100% cotton were immerged into QACs solution with a certain liquor ration for 30 min, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days. The absorption and adsorption of quats onto wiping material were measured by UV spectrophotometer. Standards ASTM E 2149-13a was carried out to assess the antimicrobial efficacy. Results: There was evident increase of QACs adsorption in all wipes including plasma treated ones in function of the storage time. Plasma–treated PET showed a small increase in adsorption (~5%) while cotton wipes display a decrease in QACs adsorption (~5%). Surprisingly, the plasma-treated blend wipes are able to adsorb almost the double of the untreated ones (from 15% to around 30%). Cotton sample shows the lowest antimicrobial effect in all the cases. In PET and blend wipes the storage time has a significant influence on the Log reduction of E.coli. in both untreated and plasma treated samples. Conclusion: The use of blend wipes is recommended due to the best performance between adsorption and antimicrobial effect. Moreover, plasma treatment can significantly improve Gram-negative bactericidal effect if necessary.